Bruno Fernandes in tears suggests he is Man United bound
Sporting's Bruno Fernandes could not hold back the tears when he came off against Valencia, leading to suggestions it was his farewell ahead of his anticipated move to Old Trafford.
Sporting Lisbon lost a pre-season friendly 2-1 at home to Valencia on Sunday, a game which could prove to be last for the Portuguese club’s star midfielder Bruno Fernandez, or at least that’s what they believe in the English press.
The 24-year-old has been on the agenda of Manchester United for some quite time, now even more so that Paul Pogba could leave to join Real Madrid. And reports over the weekend claimed the Portuguese international was due to fly to the UK to complete a medical for the Red Devils, who are expected to pay around 70 million euros for the player.
Tearful Fernandes apparently says his goodbyes to Sporting
Fernandes could not hold back the tears when he came off against Valencia and appeared to wave goodbye to the home crowd after the game, during which he was also seen in tears. And many in the British press believe his actions signal that the game was his farewell to the Estádio José Alvalade ahead of his anticipated move to Old Trafford.
After the game, Sporting coach Marcel Keizer said he hoped Fernandes would stay but he was not clear whether that would be the case.
“We’ll see if we can keep our players and then we’ll see what we do,” said Keizer. “I hope he [Fernandes] stays, of course, like everyone else at Sporting, but we don’t know.”
Fernandes would become Man United’s third summer buy
Meanwhile, the player himself admitted to Portuguese daily A Bola that his desire is to go to England, stating: “I said I wanted to play in England, but I don't care now. Will it be this season? It will be when the club decides. I don't, I'm not in command.”
Should he be confirmed as a Manchester United player imminently, the Portuguese midfielder will become coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s third signing of the summer after former Swansea midfielder Daniel James and full back Aaron Wan Bissaka, who signed from Crystal Palace for £50 million (55 million euros).